Implants

People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can’t keep up. If you’ve lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.

An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.

The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.

Single or Multiple Implants

Implants are versatile. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.

Advantages Over Dentures or Bridges

Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural, but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don’t directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don’t compromise the health of your natural teeth. In fact, bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically last a lifetime.

Post-Treatment Care

Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.

Implant Services

Our implant services include:

Sinus Lift Augmentation: Often the sinuses will enlarge following loss of the upper back teeth. This can preclude placement of dental implants in the upper back areas of the mouth, since the sinus is an air-filled space and dental implants need to be surrounded by solid bone. A sinus lift augmentation/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its original size, and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.

Autogenous Bone Grafting: Occasionally, the ideal areas for dental implants do not have sufficient bone quantity to support the implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to “borrow” bone from another area of your mouth and graft it into the deficient area. Often, the area of choice is from the chin or in the back of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.

Implant Site Development: When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is not uncommon to have lost bone around the infected tooth. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date.

Computer-Enhanced Treatment Planning: We have special software on our computer that allows us to evaluate your dental CT scan in three dimensions for bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location, enabling the best possible placement of your dental implants. This also allows us to work closely and smoothly with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal result where your dental implants are concerned.

Implant Maintenance: Once your dental implant restoration is completed, it is important to keep the area clean and infection-free. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, a professional cleaning schedule will be necessary to keep your implants healthy. The time interval for these professional cleanings will be determined by your individual needs.

3i Dental Implants

Why should I choose 3i dental implants?

There are a wide variety of dental implants in the marketplace, but 3i have an almost unparalleled success rate. Almost 98% of 3i implants are fitted successfully and last for a lifetime. 3i implants contain a unique feature, which is embedded in the surface of the screw. Implant screws made by other companies are sprayed with calcium phosphate to enhance the bone integration process. However, 3i screws actually contain calcium phosphate, which means that delamination is less likely to occur.

Additionally, the cone-shaped 3i screw adds precision to the placement of implants and ensures that the final prosthesis is comfortable and can withstand pressure.

Here are some of the other benefits associated with 3i implants:

Better oral health.

Higher success rate.

Improved self-esteem.

Long-lasting results.

Multiple 3i implants can be placed during a visit.

Natural-looking implants.

No adhesives or mess.

Prevention of bone loss and gum recession.

Sturdy, functional prosthetic teeth.

How are 3i dental implants placed?

The procedure for placing 3i dental implants is similar to many other implant procedures. It is usually performed in two short visits, the first visit being typically an hour in length and the second taking around thirty minutes.

After the dentist has analyzed the X-rays and diagnostic results, the implant root can be inserted. This procedure will be performed under local anesthetic, unless another type of sedation is preferred.

Here is a step-by-step process for the first stage of a 3i dental implant placement:

An incision will be made in the gum tissue to expose the jawbone.

A tiny hole will be drilled into the jawbone to insert the implant into.

The implant will be screwed or tapped into the designated position.

A small temporary stop-cap is placed to cover the implant, and the surgical site is sutured closed.

After approximately 10 days, the sutures will be removed and the dentist will assess the healing process.

Generally, 3i dental implants enhance the healing process, which means that the second treatment phase can be completed around 10-12 weeks after the first.

Here is a brief overview of can be expected at the second appointment:

A local anesthetic will be administered, and a tiny incision will be made to expose the prosthetic root. The temporary stop-cap will be removed and a small post or abutment will be attached to the implant.

When the healing process is complete, the new dental prosthesis (usually a crown) will be created from bite impressions. A tiny screw will be used to secure the prosthesis onto the abutment. Any necessary adjustments will be made to ensure the prosthesis is comfortable, and the 3i dental implant will be secure for a lifetime.

If you have any questions about 3i dental implants, please ask your dentist.